Effective Writing : Handbook for Accountants

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An effective supplement for any accounting course. This text, the best-selling book of its kind, discusses the communication, both written and oral, actually done by professional accountants. It uses real-world accounting situations and includes major sections on Communication Strategies, Business Documents, and Oral Communication.

Preface

xiii

PART I: COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES

1

(142)

Accountants as Communicators

3

(10)

What Do Accountants Write?

5

(1)

How Well Do Accountants Write?

6

(1)

What Makes Writing Work?

6

(1)

You Can Become a Good Writer

7

(1)

Writing and Critical Thinking

8

(1)

Writing and Other Forms of Communication

8

(1)

Reading

8

(1)

Listening

9

(1)

Speaking

9

(1)

Writing and Problem Solving

9

(2)

Exercises

11

(2)

The Writing Process

13

(15)

Getting Started: Identifying Purpose

13

(2)

Thinking Critically about the Issues

15

(1)

Analyzing the Readers

16

(1)

Getting Your Ideas Together

17

(4)

Gathering Information

18

(1)

Generating Ideas

19

(1)

Arranging Ideas: Organization

19

(2)

Writing the Draft

21

(1)

Revising the Draft

21

(2)

The Final Draft

23

(1)

Dealing with Writer's Block

23

(1)

Writing Under Pressure

24

(1)

Writing at the Computer

24

(1)

Exercises

25

(3)

The Flow of Thought

28

(20)

Writing with Unity

28

(1)

Using Summary Sentences

29

(1)

Responding to Readers' Questions and Concerns

30

(1)

Transitions

30

(6)

Transitional Words and Phrases

32

(1)

Repetition of Key Words and Phrases

33

(1)

Pronouns Used to Achieve Coherence

34

(1)

Problems with Transitions

35

(1)

Paragraphs

36

(4)

Length

36

(1)

Structure

36

(3)

Paragraph Development

39

(1)

Discussion Questions and Essays

40

(5)

Discussion Questions

40

(1)

Essays

40

(3)

Applying Essay Techniques to Other Kinds of Writing

43

(1)

Sample Essay

43

(2)

Test Yourself

45

(1)

Test Yourself: Answers

45

(1)

Exercises

45

(3)

A Sense of Style

48

(26)

Conciseness

48

(7)

Unnecessary Words

48

(1)

Simplicity

49

(1)

Verbs and Nouns

50

(5)

Clarity

55

(6)

Jargon

55

(1)

Precise Meaning

56

(3)

Concrete, Specific Wording

59

(2)

Readable Writing

61

(5)

Passive and Active Voice

61

(2)

Variety and Rhythm

63

(2)

Tone

65

(1)

Editing for Style at the Computer

66

(1)

Test Yourself

67

(1)

Test Yourself: Answers

68

(1)

Exercises

69

(5)

Standard English

74

(21)

Major Sentence Errors

74

(2)

Fragments

74

(1)

Comma Splices

75

(1)

Fused Sentences

76

(1)

Problems with Verbs

76

(2)

Tense and Mood

76

(1)

Subject-Verb Agreement

77

(1)

Problems with Pronouns

78

(2)

Pronouns and Gender

79

(1)

Problems with Modifiers

80

(1)

Parallel Structure

81

(1)

Apostrophes and Plurals

81

(1)

Commas

82

(2)

Comma Guidesheet

82

(2)

Colons and Semicolons

84

(1)

Direct Quotations

85

(1)

Spelling

86

(1)

Help from the Computer

87

(1)

Test Yourself

88

(2)

Test Yourself: Answers

90

(1)

Exercises

91

(4)

Format for Clarity

95

(13)

Good Design: An Illustration

95

(1)

A Professional Appearance

95

(5)

Paper and Print

99

(1)

White Space and Margins

99

(1)

Neatness Counts!

99

(1)

Formatting

100

(2)

Headings

100

(1)

Lists and Set-Off Material

101

(1)

Pagination

101

(1)

Graphic Illustrations

102

(4)

Document Design at the Computer

106

(1)

Exercises

106

(2)

Critical Thinking

108

(9)

Making an Argument: The Process

108

(7)

Reaching Sound Conclusions: Two Approaches to Logic

111

(2)

Fallacies: Mistakes in Reasoning

113

(2)

Test Yourself

115

(1)

Test Yourself: Answers

115

(1)

Exercises

116

(1)

Accounting Research

117

(26)

Research: Basic Guidelines

117

(7)

Electronic Sources of Information

118

(1)

Printed Sources of Information

119

(1)

Note Taking

120

(1)

Direct Quotation and Paraphrase

120

(1)

Plagiarism

121

(1)

Organizing Your Notes and Ideas

122

(1)

Writing Your Research Report or Memo

122

(1)

Integrating Notes Into Your Writing

122

(1)

Revising

122

(1)

Documentation

122

(2)

Critical Thinking and Technical Accounting Research

124

(3)

Financial Accounting Research

125

(1)

Steps in the Financial Accounting Research Process

125

(2)

Exercises

127

(4)

Appendix 8-A: Sources of Accounting and Financial Information on the Internet

131

(3)

Appendix 8-B: Computerized Reference and Database Services

134

(2)

Appendix 8-C: Other Printed Sources of Accounting and Financial Information